Cooking machine



Dec. 5,1950 w. CURRIER; JR ,53

COOKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l v fnvenia: 110812 e' WCwrm'erJ? ly MllWfWiys.

Dec. 5, 1950 w. CURRIER, JR 2,532,

COOKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Leslie WCza'rzlend?! 71y MWWiMMaMQflZZ'y Dec. 5, 1950 L. w. CURRIER, JR 2,532,894

COOKING MACHINE Filed llay 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I t r I 1 m FR i 0 1.. w. CURRIER, JR 2,532,394

COOKING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 47 45 lnqentqr:

LesipeT v Gurmenda;

Dec. 5, 1950 L.- w. CURRIER, JR 2,532,894

COOKING MACHINE Filed May 15. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 5, 1950 L. w. CURRIER, JR 2,532,894

cooxms MACHINE Filed May 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Leslie W Gurm'ezyJr,

77 b a mm mwws Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE oooxmc MACHINE Leslie w. Currier, Jr., Kingston, N. 11.

Application May 15, 1947, Serial No. 748,315

1 20 Claims. My invention relates to cooking machines, particularly but not exclusively to one adapted for v cooking nuts.

. The invention has among its objects a cooking machine having provision for entering and removing the articles to be cooked into and from the cooking medium at substantially regular intervals, a further object being the provision of operator controlled means for selectivel varying the duration of such intervals so as selectively to vary the time the articles are cooked. These and other objects of the inven tion will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings, while the scope oi. the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- I Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine according to Fig. 1, as viewed from the left. with I parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the panel and adjacent parts as viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevation, corresponding to Fig. 3, with the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig.7 on a reduced scale with parts omitted, this Section line also being shown on Fig. 5 for convenience in following the drawings;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, sections on the line 85 and 99 of Fig. 7, with parts omitted;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line l0-l0 of Fig. 11, with parts omitted;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line llll of Fig. 16 with parts omitted and parts broken away, Fig, 11 corresponding to a fragment of Fig. 7 with parts in a difierent operative position;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 1 2-1 2 of Fig. 7, with parts omitted and parts broken away;

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are sections corresponding to Fig. 12, each showing the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 17 is a plan of the cooking oil container and associated parts;

Fig.'18 is a longitudinal section of the motor holding switch on the line l8--l8 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 is a section on the line Ill-l9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section, corresponding timing device;

to Fig. 18, of one of the four like switches of the Fig. 21 is a schematic wiring diagram; and

Fig. 22 is a fragment of a schematic wiring diagram, corresponding to Fig. 21, showing a modifled form of timing device.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated comprises a base I which supports a boxlike standard having the opposite vertical side walls 3 and 5 and vertical back wall 1, the side of the standard opposite the wall 1 being open. At their lower ends the walls 3, 5 and 1 are provided with flanges 9 resting upon the base and secured thereto by screws ll. At their upper edges the walls 3 and 5 are each bent to form a horizontal inwardly extending portion I3 terminating in an upwardly extending flange I5 (Figs. 6 and 7). Similarly the back wall 1 at its upper edge is bent to form a horizontal inwardly extending portion 11 terminating in an upwardly extending flange l9.

To the inner side of each of the flanges l5 of the standard just described is secured by means of screws 2| a horizontal bar 23 (Figs. 6 and 7), and to the inner side of each of these bars is secured by means of screws 25 the end portion of an elongated horizontal. bar 21, the two bars 21 thus provided projecting in spaced relation to each other horizontally beyond the open vertical side of the standard. As shown, a horizontal bar 29 (Figs. 7 and 12) is positioned between the right hand ends of the bars 21 as viewed in Fig. 7, this bar 29 being secured to the bars 21 by screws 3|. The vertical flange l9 at the top of the standard overlies the outer side.of the bar 29 and is secured thereto by screws 33.

As shown, above the standard of the machine is positioned a hopper 35 for the articles, such as nuts, to be cooked, this hopper having an open upper end through which'the articles may be en 'tered into it. As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, this hopper at two of its opposite sides at its lower edge is provided with an outtumed horizontal flange 31, each of which rests upon the adjacent bar 21 and is secured thereto by screws 39.

Below each of the elongated horizontal bars 21 is positioned an elongated horizontal bar 41, the latter being suspended from the :bars 21 by plates 43, 45, 41 and 48 (Figs. 7, 8, 11 and 12) As shown in Fig. 8, each of the plates 43 at its upper edge portion has an outtumed flange 49 secured to the under side of the adjacent bar 21 by screws 5|. At its lower edge portion each plate 43 rests against the inner side of the adjacent bar 41 to which it is secured by screws 53. The plates 43 are of width approximating the corresponding 3 dimension of the hopper, and extending between said plate: adjacent one pair of their opposite vertical-edges is a plate 55 (Figs. 11 and 12) having at its upper edge an outturned laterally projecting flange 51 secured at each of opposite ends to the adjacent bar 21 by a screw 59. Extending between the other pair of vertical edges of the plates 48 is a plate 9i having an outturned flange 53 secured to the under side of the bar 29 y screws 05.

As clearly indicated by Fi s. 11 and 12, the two plates 43 and plates 55 and BI form a box-like chamber or chute. This chamber serves as a measuring chamber for the articles to be charged to the basket 61 of the machine. Entrance of the articles to the chamber from the.ho pper is controlled by the sliding inlet valve 09 (Figs. 11 and 12), and exit of the articles from the chamber to the basket is controlled by the sliding outlet valve II, these valves being alternately opened and closed for filling the measuring chamber with the articles and afterward discharging them therefrom to the basket. For properly directing the articles discharged, the lower end I3 of the plate 55 and the lower end 15 of the plate 8| are shown as curved toward each-other (see Fig. 3), the plate 6| being preferably long enough in a vertical direction to position it as close as possible to the basket.

The basket 31, above referred to, is adapted to be received in a container 'II for the hot liquid, such as cooking oil or fat, in which the articles are cooked. The basket is tiltably mounted so that it can be moved at the end of each cooking o eration from its position in the container shown by Fig. 3 to its position shown in Fig. 5, in which atter position the contents of the basket are dumped. As shown, the basket is made of foraminous sheet material so that the hot cooking liquid will enter it for cooking the articles contained therein, and so that such liquid will readily drain from the basket when the basket is raised from the liquid.

As shown, the basket is fixedly secured adjacent one lateral edge to a rock shaft I9 journalled adjacent its opposite ends in bearings 0| carried by the vertical sides 3 and 5 of the standard. For securing the basket to the shaft a clip 83 is brazed to the adjacent portion of each end wall of the basket, the projecting end 85 (Fig. 5) of each clip having an opening 81 through which the shaft passes, this projecting portion being brazed to the shaft.

For rocking the basket carrying shaft 19,

fixedly secured thereto is the hub portion 89 (Fig.

1) of a crank arm 9|, through which portion the shaft extends. Pivotally connected to the end of the crank arm at 93 is the end of a link 95 (Figs. 3, 5 and '7), the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected at 91 to one end of a rock arm 99, the opposite end of which latter is pivotally connected at IN to the end of a post I03 (Figs. 7 and 8) rigidly carried by and laterally projecting from the adjacent bar H. For rocking the arm 99 the same is shown as provided intermediate its length with a laterally projecting pin I04 carrying a roller I05, the latter cooperating with the peripheral cam surface I01 of a rotary cam I00. As shown, this cam is carried by a horizontal shaft I09 which, as best shown in Fig. 8, is journalled adjacent opposite ends in the and 8) fixedly carried adjacent one end of a rotary shaft II5. At its opposite end the last mentioned shaft fixedly carries a wormwheel Ill which meshes with a worm Ill driven by an electric motor I2I, the worm being fixedly carried by the upper end portion of the vertical motor shaft I23. As shown, the motor I2I is carried by a bracket having a horizontal web I and a vertically extending base portion Hi, the latter being secured by bolts I29 tola plate I3I (Figs. 3 and 7) secured by screws 133 to the adjacent bar 21. The shaft 5. as shown, is journalled at one end in lugs I35 formed integrally with the bracket I25, I 21, and at its opposite end two oppositely positioned plates 45. For rotating in a bracket I31 carried by the outer side of the adjacent plate 45. a

The two sets of worms and wormwheels above described connecting the power motor shaft I23 to the cam shaft I09 form a reduction gear for rotating the cam shaft at a much reduced speed as compared to the speed of the motor. The cam surface I0! is so shaped that in one revolution of the shaft I09; the basket will be moved from its position shown in Fig. 3 to its position shown in Fig. 5 and returned to its position shown by Fig. 3. Preferably, the cam surface is formed to present a concave portion I39 so as to give the basket a dwell when it is initially raised from the container and is still above it, in this way to permit the cooking liquid to drain from-in contact with the cooked articles back into the container.

It will be observed that in the position of parts shown by Fig. 3 the weight of the basket holds the rollerl05 on the rock arm 99 in contact with the cam surface I0! of the cam I00, and that when the basket is tilted into its position shown by Fig. 5 the weight of the basket tends to move the roler away from that cam surface. To pre vent this latter movement, and to avoid the use of troublesome springs for maintaining contact between the roller and cam surface at all times, the cam is preferably integrally provided at one side thereof with an outward radially extending arm I4I (Figs. 3 and 8), this arm integrally carrying a part I43 having a concave side forming a cam surface I45 facing the cam surface I01. In the position of parts shown by Fig. 5, and in adjacent positions, this cam surface of the part I43 holds the roller in contact with the peripheral cam surface I01 of the cam I 08,

and in fact itself acts as a cam as the roller tends to bear on it rather than on the cam surface I01.

In the present embodiment of the invention the power motor I2I is normally stationary, and is operated at the end of each cooking operation to cause the basket and the valves 69 and II to move through their cycles of movement. For causing such intermittent operation of the motor, a timing device is provided. In the present embodiment of the invention this timing device is mounted upon a vertical panel I41 the lower end of which rests upon the upper surface of the bar 21 at the rearward side of the machine and is secured by screws I49 to the adjacent plate 48, which latter, for that purpose, extends upwardly above the bar as shown in Fig. 4. The timing d;vice comprises a normally continuously rotating shaft I5I (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) driven by a synchronous motor I53 (schematically shown in Fig. 21) contained in a casing I55 secured to the panel by screws ISI. This motor, which is connected to the shaft I5I by a reduction gear also contained in the casing, in effect constitutes in conjunction with such gear a clockwork. The

unit comprising the motor and reduction gear may be of the well known type employed in electric clocks driven by alternating current, and therefore need not be further described.

Fixedly mounted upon the timing shaft II, so as to rotate therewith, is a disk I58 (Figs. 2 and 4) provided with a radially projecting finger or cam I8I. This cam as it is rotated by the shaft I5I at constant speed. operates at regular intervals a switch means for controlling a circuit which causes operation of the power motor I2I.

This switch means, if an invariable cooking time of the articlss is employed, may comprise a single control switch I53, or, if a se'ectively variable cooking time is employed, may comprise that switch and the additional control switches I05, I51 and I59. It will be understood that the cooking time employed for the articles is considerably longer than the time it takes to move the basket through its cycle. For example, the cooking time may be about 6 minutes, while it may take, for example, 30 seconds to move the basket through its cycle. As the timing motor normally operates at substantial y constant speed, and this may not be true of the power motor I2l for moving 'the basket, the control means for the power motor is preferably such that the timing device causes initiation of its operation and the motor itsclf operates a switch for discontinuing its operation when the basket is moved through its cycle. For this purpose the shaft I09 driven by the power motor is shown as having fixed thereto a cam disk "I provided with a flattened portion I13 (Fig. 4). This cam disk actuates a motor holding switch I15 having an operating lever I11 at the end of which is mounted a roller I19 cooperating with the cam disk. When the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 4 the switch I15 is open. When the timing device initiates operation of the power motor by closing the power motor circuit to connect such motor across the line, the shaft I09 is rotated to ca se the roller I19 to move off the flat portion I13 of the cam disk so as to swing the lever I'II to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, and in this way close the holding switch. Closure of the holding switch connects the power motor across the line 20 by a circuit in parallel with the circuit controlled by the timing device, so that when the timing switch opens after having initiated operation of the power motor the latter then remains exclusivelv under the control of the holding switch. When the motor drives the shaft I09 through one revolution the cam disk I1I returns to its position shown by Fig. 4 and the holding switch opens to discontinue operation of the power motor.

The motor holding switch I15, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, may comprise a base portion IBI and cover portion I83 both formed of insulating material. The lever I11, as shown, is in the form of a flat spring fixedly secured at one end I85 to the cover. Coacting with this lever is a pushbutton I81 extending through the cover and bearing against the leaf spring I89 for operating the contact leaf spring I9 I. These two last mentioned springs, as shown, are integrally formed as one piece presenting a base portion I92 fixedly secured by a screw I93 to the base portion of the switch. As shown, the free end portion of the spring I89 is connected to the free end portion of the contact spring I9I by a curved member I95 of flat spring stock, the spring I89 and contact spring I9I for this purpose having lugs I91 and I99 respectively extending through perforations in the ends of the spring member I95.

When the roller I18 is depressed by the cam disk "I to move the lever ill to the right, as viewed in Fig. 18, the push-button I81 will be pressed inwardly by the lever correspondingly to flex the leaf spring I88 and thus move the lower end of the curved spring member I to the right. This compresses the spring member I95 radially, and when its lower end passes a dead center position in which that end is vertically below its upp r end, as viewed-in Fig. 18, the contact spring I9I will snap to the left to cause its free end to bear against the stationary switch contact 20 I. when the flat portion I13 of the cam disk I1I again moves opposite the roller I19 the lever I11 will move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 18, to permit corresponding movement of the push-button I81 so as to cause the leaf spring I89 to move to the left to cause the parts of the switch to snap back into their position shown by Fig. 18. As shown, the switch I15 is provided with a terminal 208 in electrical communication with the contact 2M and with a second terminal 205 in electrical communication with the spring metal part forming the leaf spring I89 and contact spring I9I.

The switches I63, I65, I61 and I89 of the timing device are each provided with terminals 201 and 209 (Fig. 20) and are each directly operated by a push-button 2II acted upon by the cam IBI oi the timing device. As shown, the terminal 201 is in electrical communication with the stationary contact 20I with which cooperates the contact spring I9I, while the terminal 209 is in electrical communication with the spring metal part forming said contact spring and leaf spring I89, the construction of the switch other than as just mentioned being, except for size, identical with that of the holding switch above described.

As shown, the cooking oilin the container 11 is heated by a resistance heating element 2I3 submerged in such oil, the body of which element lieson the bottom of the container and has up-- standing end portions 2I5 projecting above the top of the container adjacent one of its lateral walls. This resistance element may be of a well known type consisting of a copper or other metal tube containing an elongated resistance heating coil, the latter being diagrammatically indicated at 2I6 in Fig. 21 and having terminals 2I'I (Fig, 3) projecting beyond the two ends of the tube.

Suitable thermostatic means may be provided for controlling the temperature of the cooking oil. As shown in Figs. 1 and 17, and diagrammatically in Fig. 21, this thermostatic means may comprise a bulb 2 I9 containing a volatile or heat expansible liquid, which bulb is submerged in the cooking oil and is connected by a fine bore tube 22I to a bellows 223 (Fig. 21) for operating the control switch for the heating coil, the bellows and control switch being contained in a casing 225 (Fig. 1) carried by the vertical side wall 5 of the standard of the machine. As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 21, the thermostatically controlled switch comprises a lever 221 pivoted intermediate its length at 229 for swinging movement, the free end 230 of the lever being operatively connected to the lower movable end of the bellows. As the oil heats up in the cooking container the bellows 223 expands, due to the increased pressure therein, to move the end 230 of the lever downwardly, which causes its opposite free end to move upwardly. Cooperating with the last mentioned end of the lever is shown a contact lever 23I pivotally mounted at one end 233 for swinging movement. As the free end of the lever 221 moves upwardly the contact lever I will swing with it under the influence oi the spring 235 until the lever 23I bears against the lower end of an adjustable stop 231, whereupon further upward movement of the lever 23I will cease, and further upward movement of the free end of the lever 221 will cause the contact between the two levers to be interrupted. The stop 231, as shown, is in the form of a screw screwthreaded through an insulating support 239 forming part of the thermostatic switch device. Conveniently this screw extends to the exterior of the casing 225, and its exterior end is provided with a knob 2 so that the screw may be rotated for, adjusting the position of the stop presented by its lower end.

For preventing operation of the power motor when the heater is first energized and the cooking oil is cold the thermostatic device preferably also is arranged to control one or the other, or

both, of the circuits for the two motors. As b automatically charged and operated only when a the cooking oil is at or above a predetermined temperature.

The wiring diagram for the machine is schematically shown by Fig. 21. Inserting the plug 245 into an outlet socket in the lighting system oi the building will connect the leads 241 and 249 to the opposite sides of the line so that these leads in eflect then constitute such sides. This will connect the heating coil 2I6 across the line from the lead 241 through the lever 221, lever 23I and lead 25I to one terminal of the heating coil, and from the lead 249 to the opposite terminal of the coil through the lead 253. When the cooking oil heats up sufllciently to cause the lever 221 to contact with the switch arm 243 the timing motor I53 will be connected across the line from the lead 241 through the lever 221, switch arm 243 and lead 255 to one terminal of this motor, the opposite terminal of which motor is connected to the lead 249 constituting the other side of the line. This will set the timing motor in operation to cause it continuously to rotate the disk I59 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 21. When the cam finger I6I strikes and depresses the push-button 2I I of the timing switch I63 it will close that switch and connect the power motor I2I across the line from the lead 249 by way of the lead 251 to one terminal of that motor, and from its opposite terminal through the lead 259, lead 26I, switch I63, lead 263, lead 265, lead 255, switch arm 243 and lever 221 to the lead 241. Connecting the power motor across the line will cause it to rotate and close the switch I 15. This closure of the switch I15 will connect the power motor across the line from the lead 249 through the lead 251 to one terminal of that motor, and from its opposite terminal through the lead 255, lead 261, switch I 15 and lead 269 to the lead 241. The holding switch I15 remains closed after the timing switch I63 again opens and until the basket has moved through its cycle, whereupon opening of the switch I15 causes all motion of the basket to cease until the cam finger I6I of the timer again closes the switch I63.

soastobeabletovarythecookingtimameans are preferably provided under the control of the operator for varying the duration between initiations of operations of the power motor. To this end the timing device is preferably provided with the additional switches I65, I61 and I69, the push-buttons 2 of these switches and of the switch I63, as shown, being arranged in quartering relation to each other. As shown, one terminal of each of these additional switches, like one terminal of the switch I63, is connected to the lead 265, the switch I65 being so connected by a lead 2", the switch I61 by a lead 213, and the switch I 69 by a lead 215. The other terminal of the switch I65 is connected by a lead 211 to one contact point 219 of a manually operated selector switch 26I mounted upon the panel I41 and having an operating hand 233. The other two terminals of the switches I61 and I69 are connected in parallel by the joined leads 265 and 261 to the other contact point 269 of the selector switch. The movable contact 29I of the selector switch is connected by a lead 293 to the lead 26 I extending to the switch I63. This movable contact of the selector switch is constructed to contact either the contact point 219 or both that contact point and the contact point 269. When it contacts only the point 219 not only will the switch I63 be incircuit but also the switch I65, the latter two being then in parallel so that initiation of operation of the power motor will be established not only when the timer closes the switch I63 but also when it closes the switch I65, which means that if initiation of operation of the power motor is established, for example, every 6 minutes when only the switch I63 is connected in circuit, it will be established every 3 minutes if both that switch and the switch I65 are connected in circuit in parallel by the selector switch. When the movable contact 29I is moved to contact with the contact point 289 as well as the contact point 219 all four switches of the timing device will be connected in parallel. In consequence initiation of operation of the ,power motor will be caused upon closure of each of the four switches of the timing device, which means that if such initiation is established, for example, every 6 minutes when only the timer switch I63 is connected in circuit, it will be established every 1% minutes if all the four switches are connected in circuit.

In the modification diagrammatically shown by Fig. 22 the timing motor I53 drives at reduced speed a shaft 295 upon which are arranged four cams 291, 299, 3M and 303, each having a cam finger I6I for cooperation with the several timer switches I63, I65, I61 and I69, the several cam fingers I6I being arranged in quartering relation with each other so that, as heretofore, the switches will be consecutively operated by rotation of the timing motor. As shown, one of the terminals of each of the several timing switches is connected to the lead 255 by the several leads 395, 30 309 and 3. The other terminal of the switch I65, as heretofore, is connected by a lead 211 to the contact point 219 of the selector switch, while the other two terminals of the switches I 61 and I69 are connected, as heretofore, by the joined leads 265and 281 to the other contact point 269 of the selector switch. By use of the selector switch, as heretofore, the timing switch I65 may be connected in circuit in parallel with the timer switch I 63, or, as heretofore, the three switches I65, I61 and I69 may be connected in circuit all in parallel with the switch I63, so that the duration between initiations of operation of the power motor as controlled by the switch I33 may be halved or quartered.

No attempt has wiring as applied to the embodiment of the machine shown in the drawings, as it is believed that those skilled in the art may readily supply movement in longitudinally extending grooves 3|3 and 3|5, formed in the adjacent pairs of longitudinally extending horizontal bars 21 and 4|,

respectively, as clearly indicated in Figs. 8 and 12. As shown, the inlet valve 69 is provided at one end with an extension (H1 in which is formed an elongated slot 3|9 (Figs. 7 and 12). On the shaft I09 which operates the cam for moving the basket is fixedly mounted a radially projecting arm 32 This shaft rotates counterclockwise, to move the arm upwardly, as viewed in Fig, 12. Such movement ofthe arm from its position shown in Fig. 12 to its position shown in Fig. 13 will cause the arm to enter the slot 3|9 of the inlet valve 69 and engage one end of the slot to move the valve to the left into its fully open position shown by Fig. 14, whereupon continued rotation of the arm causes it to move downwardly from the slot.

The inlet valve 69 is normally held in its closed position shown by Fig. 12 by a semi-circular cam 323 fixedly mounted upon the shaft I09 so as to rotate therewith. In the position shown by Fig. 12 the curved peripheral surface 325 of the cam rests against a finger 321 the lower end of which is pivotally mounted at 329 on a plate 33| resting upon the upper edges of the horizontal bars AI and carried thereby (see Figs. 8 and 12) The valve 69 carries a roller 333, against which the upper portion of the finger 32'1 rests when the parts are in their position shown by Fig. 12, and against which roller the finger is held by the cam 323 so as to hold the valve closed. After the inlet valve 69 is opened, further rotation of the shaft I09 from its position shown by Fig. 14 will cause the cam 323 to engage with the finger 321 to cause the upper end of the finger to engage with the roller 333 and move the valve again into its closed position shown by Fig. 15.

As shown, the outlet valve 1| at opposite sides thereof is provided with rearwardly extending portions 335 and 331 (Figs. 7, 8 and 11). Also, as shown, pivoted at 339 to a plate 3, carried at the under sides of the pair of bars 4| and extending therebetween, is one end of a lever 343. The opposite end of this lever is slotted as shown at 345, and through the slot extends a headed pin 341 carried by and projecting upwardly from the extension 331 of the valve. Carried by and projecting upwardly from the opposite extension 335 of the valve is a second headed pin 349 extending through the longitudinally extending slot 35| at the end portion of a. link 353, the opposite end of this link being pivotally connected at 355 to the lever 343 intermediate the length of the latter. Rearwardly of the shaft I09 is positioned a rock shaft 351 journalled at opposite ends in the plates 41 and 48 respectively. This rock shaft rigidly carries a hub 359 with which is integrally formed a pair of radially extending arms 36| and 363 spaced from each other longitudinally of the hub. When the shaft I09 is rotated into the position shown by Fig. 15 to close the inlet valve 69 the arm 32| rigid with that shaft engages the am 363 on the rock shaft 351, continued downward been made to show the actual I movement of the arm 32|, as viewed in Fig. 15, causing the rock shaft to rotate clockwise to swing the arm 393 operatively carried thereby to the right. The arm 36| normally rests against the adjacent edge of the link 353 and, as will be clear from Figs. '7 and 9, clockwise movement of it will cause it to press against the link 353 and swing that link and the lever 343 from their positions shown by Fig. 7 to their positions shown by Fig. 11, the arm 36| bearing against the lever 343 during the final part of such movement, as will be clear from Figs. 10 and 11. So moving the link and lever will move the valve 1| from its closed position shown by Fig. 15 to its open position shown by Fig. 16, whereupon the arm 32| moves from in contact with the arm 363 and continues to move downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 16, to engage with the lug 365 carried by the rearward end of the valve 1| to move the valve from its fully open position shown by Fig. 16 to its fully closed position shown by Fig. 12. As the arm 36| engages the link 353 and lever 343 adjacent the mid-point of the length of the latter it will be observed that the motion of the arm imparted to the valve 1| through the link and lever is multiplied, so that the construction described permits a compact arrangement of parts.

It will be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention described with- 'out de arting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes it from such liquid and then replaces it therein, an operator controlled variable timing device, and means controlled by said timing device for causing, at selected substantially regular intervals of greater duration than such cycle, said power operated means to so move said basket.

2. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through cycles of substantially constant duration each of which removes the basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a timing device, means controlled by said timing device for causing at substantially regular intervals, each of duration greater than the duration of the cycle of movement of the basket, said power operated means to move said basket through one of such cycles, and operator controlled means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between such cycles of movement of said basket by said power operated means.

3. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes it from such liquid and then replaces it therein, an operator controlled variable timing device comprising switch means operated at selected substantially regular intervals, and circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said power operated means to so move said basket.

4. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes it from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said power operated means to so move said basket, and operator controlled means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between such movements of said basket by said power operated means.

5. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes it irom such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said power operated means to so move said basket, and operator controlled switch means associated with said circuit means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between such movements of said basket by said power operated means.

6. A nut cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes said basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated operator controlled variable timing device comprising switch means operated at selected substantially regular intervals, and circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said motor to operate for so moving said basket.

7. A nut cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes said basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said motor to operate for so moving said basket, and operator controlled means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between the operations of said motor.

8. A nut cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes said basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by the operation of said switch means for causing at such substantially regular intervals said motor to operate for so moving said basket, and operator controlled switch means associated with said circuit means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between the operations of said motor.

9. A cooking machine having, in combination,

a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes said basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated operator controlled variable timing device comprising switch means operated at selected substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by said switch means for initiating operation of said motor; and a holding switch means, operated by said motor, and circuit means controlled thereby for causing said motor when its operation is so initiated to continue operating until the basket is moved through said cycle and then to discontinue operating.

10. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a. normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes said basket from such liquid'and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by said switch means for initiating operation oi said motor; a holding switch means, operated by said motor, and circuit means controlled thereby for causing said motor when its operation is so initiated to continue operating until the basket is moved through said cycle and then to discontinue operating, and operator controlled switch means associated with the first mentioned circuit means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between the initiations 01 operations of said motor.

11. A cooking machine having, in combination,.a container for hot cooking liquid. a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes it from V such liquid and then replaces it therein, a timing device comprising a plurality of switch means consecutively operated, circuit means adapted to be controlled by each of said switch means for causing said power operated means intermittently to so move said basket, and operator controlled means associated with said circuit means for selectively varying the number of said switch means controlling said circuit means whereby selectively to vary the durations of the intervals between such movements 01 said basket by said power operated means.

12. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated means comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for moving the basket relative to said container through a cycle which removes the basket from such liquid and then replaces it therein, a continuously operated timing device comprising a. plurality of switch means consecutively continuously operated with substantially equal intervals between such operations, circuit means adapted to be controlled by each of said switch means for initiating operation of said motor, operator controlled switch means associated with said circuit means for selectively varying the number of said switch means controlling said circuit means whereby selectively to vary the durations of the intervals between the initiations of operations of said motor, and a holding switch device operated by said motor and circuit means controlled thereby for causing said motor when its operation is so initiated to continue operating until the basket is moved through said cycle and then to discontinue operating.

13. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container'for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, means for charging the basket with such articles, power operated means for operating the last mentioned means and for moving said basket relative to said container through a cycle for raising the basket from such liquid and dumping it and then returning it to said liquid charged with fresh articles, an operator controlled variable timing device, and means controlled by said timing device for causing, at selected substantially regular intervals of greater duration than such cycle said power operated means to so move and charge said basket.

14. A cooking machine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, means for charging the basket with such articles, mechanism comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for operating the last mentioned means and for moving said basket relative to said container for raising the basket from such liquid and dumping it and then returning and charging it with fresh articles, a continuously operated operator controlled variable timing device comprising switch means operated at selected substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by said switch means for initiating operation of said motor when said switch means is operated, and circuit means comprising a second switch means controlled by said motor for causing continued operation of the motor until said basket is returned to the container by said mechanism.

15. A cooking ir -chine having, in combination, a container for hot cooking liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, means for charging the basket with such articles, mechanism comprising a normally stationary electric driving motor for operating the last mentioned means and for moving said basket relative to said container for raising the basket from such liquid and dumping it and then returning and charging it with fresh articles, a continuously operated timing device comprising switch means operated at substantially regular intervals, circuit means controlled by said switch means for initiating operation of said motor when said switch means is operated, circuit means comprising a second switch means controlled by said motor for causing continued operation of the motor until said basket is returned to the container by said mechanism, and operator controlled switch means associated with the first mentioned circuit means for selectively varying the durations of the intervals between the initiations of operations of said motor.

16. A cooking machine, a container for. cooking liquid, a heater for said liquid, a basket for the articles to be cooked, power operated mechanism for operating said basket, an operator controlled variable timing device for causing operation of said basket by said mechanism at selected substantially regular intervals, and thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the cooking liquid for rendering said timing device inoperative when such temperature is'less than a predetermined minimum. 1 Y

17. A cooking machine having, in combination.

Number Name Date 1,760,600 *Lockett May 27. 1930 2,004,500 'Brunelle June 11,1935 2,222,314 Husk Nov. 19, 1940 2,385,644 Polk Sept. 25, 1945 a basket mounted for swinging movement for dumping its contents, an oscillatory lever and a link operatively connecting it to said basket for so swinging it, a rotary cam having a peripheral cam surface, said lever operatively having a laterally projecting portion engaged by said cam surface for causing rotation of said cam to move said lever during that part of its travel in which the weight of the basket urges said portion against said cam surface, and means rotatable with said cam presenting a cam surface adapted to engage said portion for causing movement of said lever during that part of its travel in which the weight of the basket urges said portion away from said first mentioned cam surface.

18. A cooking machine having, in combination, a hopper for the articles to be cooked; means for discharging from said hopper measured quantities of such articles comprising a measuring chamber; a sliding inlet valve for controlling entrance of such articles to said chamber from said hopper; a sliding outlet valve for controlling discharge of such articles from said chamber; mechanism for alternately reciprocating said valves comprising a rotary shaft, a separately mounted rockable member, and a motion multiplying lever means operated by said rockable member; and means, independent of said rockable member and motion multiplying lever means, carried by said shaft for, during one revolution thereof, opening and closing said inlet valve and thereafter, during the same revolution, closing said outlet valve and prior to closing said outlet valve, but after closing said inlet valve, operating said rockable member for causing the latter to operate said motion multiplying lever means for quickly opening said outlet valve.

19. A cooking machine according to claim 18 in which the means carried by the shaft comof the latter, the other end portion of which lever is pivoted at a fixed point positioned toward the opposite lateral side of said valve, a link pivoted at one end portionthereof to said lever intermediate the length of the-latter and at its 01)- posite endjportion operatively pivotally connect ed to said valve at the lateral side of saidvalve opposite the pivotal connection of said lever thereto, the rockable member operating on said lever and link adjacent the pivotal connection of one to the other for quickly opening said valve,

LESLIE w; cunmaa, JR.

nnrannuoas orran The following references are of record in file of this patent: I r

I UNITED STATES PATENTS v 

